The case of the amazing vanishing periods. Anyone else?

[MrsMeow]

My last period was on 15th November last year, I'm currently on day 96 of a usually 34 day cycle, and am wondering what the hell is going on!

I've had two blood tests, one last Weds and one a month before that, to check LH, FSH and Thyroid levels. Just phoned up for the results now and they're all normal. There just doesn't seem to be any reason whatsoever for my periods going AWOL. I'm not particularly under any more stress than normal, no weight loss/gain, not pregnant.

I'm getting all the usual PMT symptoms and aches and pains, but just no bleeding at the end of it. I'm only 31 and since I started at 11 I've always been pretty regular, apart from when pregnant obviously.

Has this happened to anyone else? I have googled but it all seems to be linked to PCOS, which I assume would have shown up in the blood tests I've just had, if I had it?

MrsM,

What day did they check your LH and FSH levels?. Importantly did they compare the two levels?. If they did not do this that test actually is meaningless. Abnormalities can usually only be seen if the two levels are compared; they can look okay if only looked at separately.

If periods are non existant they can do the blood tests according to calendar days. LH and FSH should be checked on day 2 of the cycle. Normally these two levels are the same; an imbalance of LH to FSH is one possible indicator of PCOS.

Have they not done an internal ultrasound scan yet?. This would give a good view of what both your uterine cavity and ovaries look like.

If GP is uncertain I'd be asking for a referral to a gynae for further evaluation.
Do not be fobbed off.

Hi Attila :) I seem to remember you giving me some v good advice a few months ago when I posted about dizziness around ovulation! As you can see, my body is going a bit strange!

I have had the two blood tests to compare, one on the 19th Jan and one on the 16th Feb - this is the one that I phoned up about earlier and all the results seem normal. My thyroid was also checked with this recent blood test, normal as well.

The problem with me having no period at all since November, is that I have no idea where in my cycle I 'should' be, hence, I think, why the Dr just sent me on the next available date. My LH level was raised on the first test, so I thought I may be about to ovulate and was waiting for me period to no avail!

I think I will go back to see another Dr. Nothing has been mentioned about a scan or what I should try next or anything, so I'm in limbo a bit. It's like waiting for paint to dry

My friend says I should just make the most of being period free, and I suppose I should as they're usually horrendously heavy - but I can't help but worry a bit.

Thanks for taking the time to reply :)

You need to determine exactly why this is happening.

Hi Mrs M,

The blood tests should have been done far earlier if they were primarily to test LH and FSH levels. As your periods are non existant at present they should have been done according to calendar days i.e the second of the month. (My periods were non existant due to PCOS so the hospital did the blood tests according to calendar days). You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

I would certainly seek out another GP and insist you are at that time referred to a gynae. Its all too easy to be fobbed off.

If your periods are very heavy as well then fibroids should be checked for as well.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Let us know how you get on.

Thanks again, I really appreciate your advice.

I think I will go back and see one of the other GPs. It makes sense what you say about the calendar days, and there must be some reason why everything has just stopped like this.

My periods have always been heavy, ever since the first one. They did calm down a lot when on the pill/I had the Mirena, but since stopping all contraception just over a year ago, they've been horrendous. And then they just stopped!

I'll phone on Monday I think, see what they suggest.

Hi MrsM,
Just to say- I regularly had the same thing when I came off the pill at 30. 4-5 months of regularity. 60 days off. 3 months of varying regularity. 90 days, no bleeding. Drove me mad.
Doctors couldn't tell me why, and still can't, other than it may have been a hangover from being on the pill.
It also turned out I did have (mild) PCOS, and various other issues that were affecting my ability to fall pregnant, although I finally have (I'm 34 now). This also was attributed to affecting my cycle length, and not bleeding for long periods of time.
I'm not trying to scare or upset you. Atilla's advice above is exactly right- get your GP to refer you for investigation. Once you get in the system, I have found the consultant staff and clinics to be fantastic. There's a lot they can do even if they do discover any issues- a lot. But it's better to know sooner than later, just even to put your mind at rest, although I'm sure you'll be fine and nothing will be wrong. Some people just do miss bleeds for a while too.
Good luck honey, get those GPs told!

I'd chill a bit. Upto 12 months amenorrhoea (no periods) can be normal. I'd only worry if you were desperately trying to get pregnant. If you really really want a period the GP could give yo some norethisterone to induce a bleed but otherwise I think it's far to early to be thinking about anything else

i gave birth in november and am getting increasingly worried as i have not had a period since. i want to start trying for another child at the end of the year, so i feel i want to get it checked out. So is this quite common? am 32 years old

OP ask them to check prolactin too